Cancelled voters’ registration soon to be reinstated

According to Title 23 of the Palau National Code (PNC) § 1405 (b), anyone on the voters’ list who fails to vote in quadrennial general election would have his or her name removed from the list; thus, that person may not be eligible to vote again unless he or she re-register again.Senators Alan Seid, Hokkons Baules, and Caleb Otto introduced Senate Bill No. 7-233, to repeal section 8 of RPPL No. 6-50 thereby amending 23PNC§ 1405 to read that any voter who has had his or her registration cancelled in the 2004 General Election shall have his or her registration automatically re-instated; and that the Election Commission sees to it that it is so.The bill has been the subject of many heated debates in both Houses of the Olbiil Er a Kelulau (OEK).  It had been revised in the Senate and transmitted to the House of Delegates (HOD).On July 23, HOD reviewed the revised bill and passed it on its third and final reading without further amendments.  The bill has been sent back to the Senate.If no further amendments are made to the Senate Bill No. 7-233, the bill could be transmitted to the Office of the Presidents for review and approval.   Following legislative procedures, if it is then approved, any voter who has had his or her registration cancelled would have his or her registration re-instated effective on the day the bill is signed into law; and he or she would be able to vote in coming elections with re-registering.